Heartwarming Love Story of Suresh and Sumalatha: A Satirical Masterpiece That Tackles More Than It Bargains For

After a quick intro, Sureshanteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hrudayahariyaya Pranayakadha (SSHP) kicks off with a scene where an elderly woman passes away naturally, setting the stage for one of the film’s main characters, Sureshan, to reconnect with his roots. Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval’s signature quirkiness shines through in this satirical moment, as the woman’s family reacts in anything but sorrow. Interestingly, this reminds me of how the director’s debut film, Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019), starts with Rajesh Madhavan’s character performing funeral rites for his presumed-to-be-dead father.

Just like in his previous film, SSHP also features the director in a playful cameo appearance, this time as an auto-rickshaw driver who brings Sureshan to the funeral just in time. As Sureshan breaks down upon seeing his late grandmother, the auto driver deadpans and asks him for the fare, saying, ‘Your total loss comes to just 3,450.’ The film is filled with such bold English lines, delivered by the talented rural ensemble, and the dry humor hits all the right notes.

Sureshan and Sumalatha’s sweet yet brief love story was a highlight in the director’s previous film, Nna Thaan Case Kodu (NTCK). SSHP takes that celebrated couple’s backstory and turns it into an experimental romantic satire, which, after an engaging first hour, becomes a bit tiresome. The quirky treatment works wonders initially, but the film loses some steam.

In a recent interview promoting the film, Ratheesh mentioned that time travel is a part of SSHP, but it’s not reliant on any device or portal.